Unemployment rate rose year-on-year in November 2025 but fell from October, as the labor market gained momentum ahead of the Christmas season, the Philippine Statistics Authroity reported on Wednesday.
The unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in November, higher than the 3.2 percent recorded a year earlier. Month on month, however, joblessness eased from 5.0 percent in October, reflecting renewed hiring as holiday-related demand lifted economic activity.
In headcount terms, 2.25 million Filipinos were unemployed in November, up from 1.66 million in November 2024 but down from 2.54 million a month earlier.
Labor force participation stood at 64.0 percent, slightly lower than the 64.6 percent posted a year ago but higher than October’s 63.6 percent. This translates to 51.52 million Filipinos aged 15 years and over in the labor force, above both last year and the previous month.
Employment rose to 49.26 million in November from 48.62 million in October, although it remained below the 49.54 million recorded a year earlier. The employment rate improved to 95.6 percent from 95.0 percent in October, but was lower than the 96.8 percent posted in November 2024.
Services continued to dominate employment, accounting for 62.1 percent of total jobs, followed by agriculture at 20.0 percent and industry at 17.9 percent. Wholesale and retail trade remained the largest sector in terms of employment.
Month-on-month job gains were strongest in services, education, and construction. At the same time, agriculture and fisheries shed workers, underscoring a seasonal and uneven recovery as the year drew to a close.
Underemployment eased in November, signaling improving job quality as year-end activity picked up. The underemployment rate fell to 10.4 percent, down from 10.8 percent a year earlier and 12.0 percent in October. In absolute terms, 5.11 million of the country’s 49.26 million employed workers sought additional hours or better-paying work.
